MacDailyNews - Where Mac news comes first

O'Grady drives me nuts, but he's right on this one.

If you are in the market for a new car, look for one that comes with a factory installed 110 V AC outlet in the dash. It was standard on my 2005.

This pisses me off. I bought a 140 Wh external battery for my G4 Powerbook from Lind, giving me an additional 8 hrs on the road, and they are not allowed to offer a MagSafe adapter for my new MacBookPro which they would like to do. Apple refuses to license out the use of the MagSafe connector.
Come on, Apple, the accessory market is what helps the iPod sales. Same goes for laptops.

Oh, geez-- here we go again.

Radio Shack, cheap adapter, works anywhere, don't need to buy an expensive new cord.

Apple has a patent on the MagSafe connector. Nobody is going to develop a power supply without their permission. That's why even the cheapest MacBook has a MagSafe connector.

Good point.

R,
you do know what a MagSafe connector is, don't you? It's not that you can't buy power adapters, it's that you can't connect them with a MacBook(Pro).

APPL will probably come out with mobile power adapaters soon, but that'll probably charge $99 - $129 for them (an exclude others from making them, so this expensive solution becomes your only option).

I believe APPL will eventually face a consumer backlash for doing stupid, greedy shyt like this (i.e. iTunes only work with iPods).

Just buy a cheap power inverter. Then you use your new Macbook in your car - and its safer. http://us.kensington.com/html/3845.html

all you need is one of these babys.. http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/electronic/7ab2/

exactly like R was saying.

hagar57,

I think R is probably referring to a power inverter. Fairly inexpensive, and work well with electronics in my experience.

Wow. I hadn't been on this page without refreshing for THAT long...

No, that's not a good solution. When you travel you need lightweight stuff. And a power inverter is great for the car but not for a plane.

I don't care who makes it even if it is Apple. Just make it.

And to Nick...first of all why the need to curse in a post Stuff wouldn't have cut it and if you think the world is upset about iTunes/iPod you're wrong, a handful of people maybe but the majority of us wants something that works perfectly and "whole widget" IS the right way to go.

Funny about being revolutionary and patented.. we recently bought a deep fryer that has a magnetic power cord. I wonder who was first...

Power inverters sound like a good solution for the car.

Anyone know somethig similar that will work on the plane?

Is it only business class and above that have power outlets or are coach seats included?

What he is "R" is refering to is the cheap power inverter that lets you plug regular AC adapters in to it and provides enough power to run the computer or anything else that requries AC power. Truck drivers live by these, (my 59 yo mom drives an OTR route thats how I know). If the wattage is enough you can run anything off of these including microwaves and mini fridges. Is it less convinient than an all in one sollution sure but it is a sollution and untl Apple decides to license or the other companies decide to pay what Apple has already decided to take for license that is the sollution you have to with.

You can use this on an airplane:

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11108992&whse;=&topnav;=&browse;=&s=1

me: we recently bought a deep fryer ...

just wondering, and i'm not setting you up for anything, but to what use does one put a deep fryer in one's home? I've never quite understood the appeal. What do you eat that needs deep frying?

thanks,

me,

MDN already covered the "Fryer Art" issue:

Apple’s patent-pending MacBook Pro ‘MagSafe Connector’ already in use in some kitchens? - Saturday, January 14, 2006

Thanks, FactChecker, I missed that article.

Mike k. - well, it makes much better fries or chicken wings than an oven. So far we've only used it for that and perogies, but I intend to try meatballs and garlic next time - I have a recipe for fried garlic that I'm dying to try out

Using an inverter to convert DC to AC, just to use a transformer and rectifier to convert it back to DC is very inefficient. I suppose it gets the job done, but a direct DC plug for auto’s would be much better, smaller and lighter.

Why stop there? Why not create a MagSafe gas pump, so that idiots that drive off with the hose and handle still attached to their cars won't break it and drive away with them and cause tons of damage to the pump. Believe me, I know. I had a boss who did this… TWICE!

mike k:

My family likes falafel. Falafel comes out best in a deep fryer. My deep fryer has a magnetic power cord.

(Great Apple news, no?)

Salaam

So what if the comments aren't always directly on topic?

What a great reader base this site has.

Nick,
APPL is APPELL PETE CORP. I don't think they are going to be making any MagSafe connectors any time soon. If you are trying to refer to Apple Computer, their symbol is AAPL. Why not just write "Apple" instead of some other company's stock symbol?

Thanks reader, you're absolutely right, I should've just said Apple. I hope you didn't waste too much time looking up that stock symbol.

Macboyx: I love the "total widget" approach to iPod/iTunes. I just wish Apple was more open to licensing its technologies.

I would love to see an iTunes store on Amazon, Tower records, MTV, & BET's websites. I think that would insure the dominance of iTunes.

Likewise, I'd like to see Apple license its hardware technologies such as magsafe and iPod. That would like result in lower prices for the consumer and a wider proliferation of desirable consumer products.

The current path Apple is taking seems eerily reminiscent of its "closed Mac" approach of the 1980's... just hate to see all my investment gains in AAPL lost due to greed/control issues.

But I trust Lord Jobs & the Gang will come with some unforseen strategy to make Apple more dominant than ever.